Water Safety Ireland is encouraging senior cycle students to consider lifeguarding as a summer job, saying the role offers meaningful work, strong skills development and a chance to spend the summer outdoors. Anyone aged 16 or older on the date of assessment can train and qualify.
While many people picture lifeguards through the lens of TV dramas, with days full of slow motion beach runs and dramatic rescues the reality is very different. Lifeguarding is less about diving into the water and more about preventing accidents before they happen.
The impact of that preventative work is clear. In 2025, lifeguards across Ireland completed 316 rescues, but those were only a small part of their responsibilities. They also dealt with 6,209 first aid incidents, reunited 245 lost children with their families, provided 145,469 pieces of information to the public, and prevented 56,154 potential accidents. Water Safety Ireland says these numbers highlight how much of the job happens long before anyone gets into difficulty.
The organisation offers Government certified qualifications for beach, pool and inland waterways. Training to become a lifeguard with Water Safety Ireland focuses on fitness, observation, first aid, teamwork, public interaction and rescue skills in both controlled and open water environments. With more than 100 pools and over 245 lifeguarded waterways nationwide, qualified lifeguards have plenty of opportunities to work throughout the year.
For students weighing up how to spend their time, Water Safety Ireland puts it simply; you could spend 40 hours binge watching a box set or listening to your favourite artist’s full discography, or you could spend the same amount of time learning how to save a life.
The organisation says lifeguard training not only opens the door to summer employment but also builds confidence, judgement and communication skills that carry into every part of life.
Students interested in getting involved can register by scanning the QR code in the advertisement.
